How to

The sun is out! Yay! But how are you finding dressing in lockdown? Has your confidence disappeared as to what to wear and how to still look stylish?

I used to fight my body type when it came to summer. I have no idea why as i know the rules to my body in the winter but when it came to summer I would beat myself up that I wasn’t skinny enough and would feel embarrassed to show off my ‘not so perfect body’.

I was also noticing that my clothes were not up to standard when it came to dressing for work, everything had that holiday vibe or overly relaxed and this was not projecting my business to the degree it needed to.

So last year I took the advice that I would give to myself as a client and I invested in my summer wardrobe with clothes that fit my bodyshape, lifestyle, personality and give me the opportunity to really express my personal brand.

My summer wardrobe now exudes confidence and it’s been built around a few key principles.

I thought I would share my best advice but as I’m writing this in May of 2020 and we are in lockdown.

There are no holidays, no festivals, no summer garden parties. Our summer wardrobe needs are very different, more everyday.

Don’t feel disheartened, i think this is good news.

It’s a time where we don’t have to put our money into dresses we will only wear once and we can actually get the foundations right, really focus in on the items that we will wear time and time again.

If you are intrigued here are my 4 rules for confident summer dressing.

Focus in on good quality basics BUT make sure they are the absolute ideal for your body type

2. Find a colour palate that excites you but most importantly allows you to wear everything in your wardrobe lots of different ways.

3. Step away from the same uniform as everyone else. Find the treasures the unusual pieces. The items that others would overlook.

4. Add the finishing touches, this is what takes an outfit from everyday to cohesive and complete.

If you would like to find out how to do this for your self then come join my next 5 week course.

When?

Style Surgeries: Thursday evening at 7:30pm 11th and 18th June and then

Thursday lunchtime 1pm 25th June, 2nd and 9th July

Guest Speakers will be live in the Facebook Group throughout the 5 weeks.

Why now?

Practically for many, our lifestyles have changed and this is a great time to reassess how our wardrobe supports our life. Let me ask you; do your clothes work for working at home but still keeping your confidence at an all time high?

This is not a time to waste money on clothes that don’t work, with the recent impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on us all, we must shop wisely and learn how to find special over commodity.

The recent uncertainty has left many feeling stuck. Making our emotional wellbeing a focus is key to ensuring we come out of this resilient and strong. Learning the skills of getting dressed everyday is so key to our mental health and ensuring as women we step into the world in our true power.

Finally, being in lockdown may have shined a light on who you get dressed for. Don’t lose the art of being yourself. Come and find it again and let’s be ready as the world starts opening up to us .

A few extra bits…

The amazing thing about doing this over 5 weeks together is that I can guide you through it step by step. If you put the work in, you will get the results, not just the teachings.

We will be looking at style from a very holistic angle, practical advice but with you at the heart of it all.

Through the weekly Style Surgeries we will ensure that you will get the 121 support you need.

All recordings will be sent out to ensure that if you can’t make it live no one will be left behind.

We are proud of the community that is created during our courses and we look forward to having you as part of it.

What clients have said about previous courses:

‘Loulou really helped me to build my confidence in my own style and my ability to find solutions that work for me rather than always be driven by others (instagram, family etc). i have loved this experienvce and will definitely miss our weekly updates and challenges’.

What a 5 weeks indeed. i’m posting this pic as it shows one of my favourite outfits and very far fromn what i would have worn before! its still me…but an upgraded me! Thank you to everyone who commented and helped…you’re all brilliant. This has been a great experience.

I’m feeling so sad this is out last Thursday, it’s been brilliant.

& many more…..

Working with Loulou Storey

Loulou has 20 years experience working in the fashion industry. She prides herself on the fact that everyone is able to have a sense of style and learn how to dress themselves for a happy and successful life.

She has appeared on ITV, featured as a future leader of the fashion industry in Tresemme’s ‘Women who Can’ campaign and regularly speaks on the BBC. She has worked with some of the UK’s largest retailers, most recently with Jigsaw, French Connection and Karen Millen, where she has trained the next generation of stylists and hosted some amazing fashion events with brands like Me&Em and Kitri.

Loulou loves styling for the red carpet and most recently dressed celebrities for events such as the BAFTA’s and the National Television Awards.

Particularly passionate about empowering women through educating them on the power of self-expression, she has styled 100’s of women around the world, to take back control of their wardrobes, find out how to feel good in their clothes and re-inspire them in gorgeous practical clothes. Loulou is a firm advocate that style is therapy and we can all become stronger from looking at how we dress and express ourselves.

Her business The Styling Storey was founded in 2016 after she used clothes as a tool to combat post-natal depression and accepting her own body. She has a personal love of smart casual dressing and helping people to celebrate what it is that makes them unique.

If you are ready to love what you wear, prevent future style and shopping mistakes and define who you are in 2020, then Loulou and her team are ready to help you transform your style!

Let me ask you a question. What did your lack of confidence with your style stop you doing last year and is this year going to be the same as last year??

If you are in a frustrated and disappointing place with your style but not sure how to do things differently, please don’t give up hope. It may feel overwhelming but by just actioning these first 4 steps you will start to become aware of where you need to build your knowledge,

Support and Knowledge: If clothes, style and wardrobe management are not your area of expertise, don’t beat yourself up over it. Asking for support, finding the experts out there and the resources that they have on offer is an important first step. (If you are reading this then you are on the right track!). Asking and seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of, you don’t know what you don’t know. Check out 10 Secrets that will help you feel like you have a new wardrobe.

Have a good mirror: I cannot tell you how many clients I work with have no way of truly seeing what their outfits look like. It can be painful to look at your appearance when its not what you want to see but for you to transform the way you look you have to take an honest appraisal of where you are at right now. How do you know what you look like, what works, what is flattering if you can’t see your reflection (in decent light)… i’ll leave it at that!

Take a daily photo: It can be very difficult to look at ourselves objectively. We are always staring at the bit we hate or feels out of proportion. A photo is a far better way to see if an outfit works. It will also help you to keep a record of the good outfits so on those tired and uninspired days you can go back and check the photo and repeat.

Allow yourself the time to think and plan: I see time and time again women feeling guilty about spending time on planning and looking after their style. They feel the time is frivolous, unproductive, vain and despite knowing how good they feel in the right outfit they carry a lot of guilt about it. Effortless style does not exist and the thinking, whether in small chunks or in big blocks, once it happens will make everyday dressing so much easier.

If you found this interesting, then try them out but it doesn’t have to end here. This is just the first step to success. For the next step we’ve created the ‘Transform your Personal Style’ Course.

If you have you ever wondered what your style would be like if you worked with a stylist.

Or

If you are you in an endless cycle of wearing the clothes that are heaped at the top of the pile

Or

If you feel ashamed and embarrassed about your appearance and secretly you know its holding you back?

Or

If you want this year to be the year that you really know how to dress and express YOU then this course is for you.

After 20 years in the industry and working with 1000’s of women and years of planning and learning I am ready to teach you. This course will be a fully immersive experience and myself and the whole team will be there to guide you to your confident style destination.

Each week we will meet and we will take you step by step what you need to do to transform your style. To dress and express yourself and most importantly function in your day to day life.

Do you have dreams of becoming a stylist?

Do you love dressing yourself and wondering if you could do the same for others?

Are you a stylist but struggling to find clients?

Perhaps you want to radically lift the standard of your own dressing by learning all the inside stylist tricks and tips and become more visible?

After 20 years in the industry there are 3 things I’d recommend you do to be a successful stylist:

Research : It’s important that you are put to date on what is in fashion and what is going on in the wider industry. Be up to date on the clothes in the shops, know unusual brands and be aware of the challenges of your clients and therefore the brands that would serve them best. Read the latest books on style and fashion (or try and get them at the Library if you are just starting out). Know what has been said in the past and create a stance on where you would like the industry to go.

Be aware of the emotional needs of your client. Don’t get caught into the trap of just focusing on body shape and colouring. Take a step back and really think about where the client is emotionally and how she wants to feel on a day to day basis. How can you help her make the leap to being more confident and belief in herself?

You have to look good, not just your client. You may be good at dressing others but you mustn’t forget about your own brand. If you are starting out focus in on 3 or 4 great outfits that truly represent you. Make sure your style is authentic to you but is a look you can grow into and will attract your ideal future client.

Would you like to do an online styling workshop?

This masterclass has ended, sign up to the mailing list to be the first to hear when it’s on next

For 3 hours become immersed in all things style and business. Learn Loulou’s unique method of working and how to ensure every client you work with walks away dying to give you a blossoming testimonial, thanking you for how you’ve turned their life around.

This is a one off opportunity to find out the secrets to Loulou’s method that she has developed over the last 20 years in the industry. She will share her insight and experience that has got her to build a successful Style Coaching business on to ITV and the BBC, allowed her to work with some of the UK’s top brands such as Me&Em and Karen Millen.

Workshop is £275 but we have 10 Early Bird tickets available at £150 until 14th October (at time of writing we had 4 left).

The 3 hour workshop will be broken down into:

– Fundamentals of Style : How to style every figure, lifestyle and colouring.

– Loulou Storey Styling Method so every client walks away with confidence and a raving testimonial.

– How to be a top stylist: Ensure your look and social is on brand and you have a financially thriving business.

– Innovative, expressive and on trend outfitting ideas for you and your client.

– Live Q & A to solve all your style and business challenges.

NB IF YOU CANT MAKE IT LIVE ON THE DAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH UP AS ALL RECORDINGS WILL BE SENT OUT

Here is that link again to the workshop.

***This masterclass has ended, sign up to the mailing list to be the first to hear when it’s on next ***

When it comes to British weather, there is no denying we have many rain days to contend with, so here’s my guide on how to look stylish and still express you even when the heavens pour down.

My Top Tips on how to keep rainwear interesting.

Best 5 Styles to look for Trench / Cape / Parka / Quilted / Rain mac.

Just because it’s practical doesn’t mean it has to be boring!

Do I really need to say but keep it rain proof, check that it is suitable for the rain.

Embrace colour, print and texture, whether that is a matt or a high shine finish. It’s a rainy dark day, why not use it as a way to brighten your day and add interest to your outfit rather than just cover up and hide.

Layer, layer, layer: hooded tops under coats that don’t have a hood or capes over blazers for maximum coverage and outfit interest.

Synthetic shoes and rubber soles are actually a better choice than leather which is porous, or alternatively look out for some rather cool weather proof shoes.

Inspirational Looks

TRENCH Vogue : How to dress for rain

CAPE

QUILTED

RAIN MAC

My top rain buys to still stay stylish (just click on the photo to go through to site!)

It’s all very well seeing inspiring images, you need to find places to buy them. Here are my suggestions and do also check out the suggestions of other practical brands I regularly recommend to my clients.

Other Practical Brands to have on your radar when buying rainwear

Rain wear specialists

Brands with Practical DNA

Have fun with your style, express you and lift your mood with your clothes no matter what the weather!

If you’d like to learn more about reigniting your personal style, getting clarity on what works for YOU, exuding inner confidence and make getting dressed everyday effortless, then my upcoming 5 week online style course is for you. Click here to find out more and start your personal style transformation.

My blog is a place for you to grow your confidence with what to wear and ensure you know how to communicate YOU.

Styling within the workplace has become a growing focus of mine as I help more and more women know how to dress for the 9to5 style and curate looks that work in their workplace, at home and out at meetings. To help you in your quest for the ideal work attire and to ensure you make the very best impression at work, I’ve put together this article, originally shared with Business Studio London on how to have an adventure with your style

Would you like to enjoy the process of getting dressed everyday?

Why not come on a style adventure with me. Try out these tips in your dressing and outfitting to fall in love with your style and ensure that this year is your most successful and fulfilling.

The old rules of workwear style are softening and whether you love it or hate it your day to day can have a lot more variety. Rather than feel overwhelmed, let me guide you through how to have your own adventure with your clothes this year.

1. ASK THE KEY QUESTION

The absolute non-negotiable question before choosing your outfit the night before work or a big event is ‘what energy do I want to bring to the room tomorrow’. Are you there to disrupt, blend or support your brand?

Consider it and let your clothes do the talking before you do.2. ADD A MULTICOLOURED JACKET

This is probably one of my most recommended bits of advice for many reasons. The perfect way to instantly perk up your wardrobe, modernise your classic suiting and ensure your personality comes through everyday. Tweeds and checks are obvious go-to’s and the options go from classic to wild to modern.

Sandro Check Jacket

The Fold Tweed Jacket

& other stories plaid coat

3. FEEL YOUR BEST

Don’t forget about how clothes feel on your skin. What makes you feel best? For a lot of my clients switching out their classic white or cream blouses for a flattering toned silk blouse can ensure that their skin is lifted and less tired looking after a long week, it also feels so much better against the skin. A little touch of luxury goes a long way and really will update a pair of jeans for you at the weekend.

Vince rust silk blouse

Hobbs silk blouse

Jigsaw silk blouse

4. SECRETLY SPICE IT UP

Life can feel a little monotonous at times and a sure fire way to add some adventure into your day to day is to connect with our sassy, naughty side. Wearing your raciest underwear on a dark and miserable morning, will put a spring in everyone’s step. No one needs to know, this is for you!

Dita von teese for Figleaves

5. SET YOURSELF A STYLE CHALLENGE

Having a wardrobe full of clothes you wear in multiple different ways, is the true marker of successful style. No item left to gather dust, everything loved and worn in multiple ways.

This week choose one unloved item and challenge yourself on how many different ways you can wear it.

How can you make it feel more casual? Smarter? More modern? What would be an unexpected colour to pair with it? What’s the opposite thing you could pair it with?

Get creative and have a play with what you own, there’s a winning outfit waiting to be found.

6. GO TONAL

Colour; knowing your colours and playing with them is a very enriching way to dress. Seen on the catwalk at Max Mara, Tonal dressing is all about wearing multiple tones of the same colour. You can keep the silhouettes classic and let the colour do the talking.

I’ve offered you a more feminine and more androgynous option here with pinks/aubergine tones but it works just as well with any other colour palate.

Feminine

Theory blush coat

Racil silk blouse

Karen Millen aubergine skirt

LK Bennett Nude rose boots

LK Bennet mulberry bag

Androgynous

Hobbs Pink Coat

Helen Moore Faux fur tippet

Hobbs Damson polo neck

Jigsaw velvet trousers

Hobbs raspberry loafers

Russell and Bromley Shopper

7. ADD SOME PLAYFUL TOUCHES.

Keep it sophisticated and elegant but let your accessories lift your classic suits and simple separates. Add colours you love, prints that get you excited, cheeky touches and unexpected textures like faux snakeskin.

Ganni snake print shoes

Anthropologie agate drop earring

Bella Singleton silk scarf

Lulu Guiness Green Bag

The key style resolution I would encourage you all to have this year, is to go on an adventure with what you wear. Buy less, buy better, buy what you truly love and most importantly get creative!

For you to feel fully confident in your appearance this year it is important to take a moment to review where you are at and where you want to be with your style.

As a Style Coach, I work with women to ask the important questions to really ensure that the transformation of our wardrobes really represents who you are.

Here are the 5 most impactful questions to ask:

What’s the one thing that frustrates me most about getting dressed in the morning?

This is a big question. We are all short of time and making our routine as efficient as possible is key. Is it as simple as you don’t have a full length mirror in your room so you are always guessing whether your outfit works? Are you too tired first thing to decide? Is your wardrobe a mess and you don’t dare go in, you just pick up the clothes off the top of the pile?

Do I feel empowered in the underwear I wear everyday?

I encourage my clients to get the foundations right. 80% of women wear the wrong size bra. Its pointless having clothes that make you feel and look good if you have pants that are falling apart or your wearing a bra that is 10 years old. It will also massively impact the appearance of your clothes.

What do I spend my money on?

Looking at your shopping habits is important. Are you a little and often person? Or perhaps you are a never shop person? Maybe you go shopping once a year and invest in great clothes but you just replace what you’ve been wearing, never truly evolving your style?

Where do I want to be professionally within 6 months?

This is key. We have to start learning how to dress for the person we are evolving into, not he person we were last year. We evolve as human beings and our identity is often lost when we haven’t brought our style up to date.

How would you like people to describe you?

Perception is important. Lets not pretend that people don’t judge us when we walk in the room. This question will help guide you in how you want your style to be? Effortless. Stylish. Glamorous. Powerful. Unique. Contemporary. This helps us navigate what is important outcome of your style as we put together a look that works for you.

I work with women to do wardrobe reviews, developing your signature style and personal shopping. Coaching is integrated into all the services I provide to ensure that questions like the ones above are answered so that we can transform the way you get dressed everyday. Find out more about my services.

If you’d like to learn more about reigniting your personal style, getting clarity on what works for YOU, exuding inner confidence and make getting dressed everyday effortless, then my upcoming 5 week online style course starting 1st February is for you. Click here to find out more and start your personal style transformation.

Dealing with the inner critic

We all have that voice in our head that keeps us safe, challenges our inner views and makes sure we stay true to our moral code.

It lets us know when we should have made a different decision or approached a situation differently. It tells us to ‘do better & fight for more’.

Its a very important voice….

However what often happens is that these voices can become very critical and negative and hold us back rather than helping us to progress.

Sometimes we’ve become so accustomed to hearing voices telling us ‘how stupid we are or how disgusting we are for being so fat, or what a disorganised mess we live in’. That we need to be ‘cooler, slime, more inteligent’ that ‘you should be doing this or doing that’. The inner critic can often dismiss our feelings and tell us how ridiculous we are for feeling a certain way. Tell you that no one wants to speak to you, that you are not worth much.

The critic stuck in our head will often focus on one particular mistake we did and play it over and over again. Each time causing us to fill up with shame, re-live the pain and feel frustrated and disappointed about the kind of person we are.

When the inner critic starts to have this level of control over our emotions it can really get us down. It doesn’t allow us to live confidently, creatively or boldly.

She keeps you in the house, not going to events you want to, not saying hi to people on the street and all in the same boring clothes you wear everyday.

However there is another way.

My inner critic can be incredibly loud, analytical and invasive and I have learnt that there is some great techniques to keep her in the corner where she belongs

1. Ask her who she is

A technique that I use with my clients a lot is to work out who she is. Your mum? Your sister? Your best friend at school when you were 15? Or perhaps it is you but you when you were 15, 17 or 21? Often the voice doesn’t actually belong to our present day selves. By working out who she is, we can separate ourselves from her and we can find it easier to disregard her unhelpful and depressing point of view.

2. Have a conversation with her

This is important. You need to sit down with her and find out what she is worried about, what her deepest fears are. Listen to her an the worries she has. Acknowledge them and don’t be dismissive. Then take her somewhere she would like for a coffee, or a cup of tea and explain to her that you’ve got this, that the things she understandably worry’s about are things you can handle. The voice in your head probably hasn’t matured over the years, whereas you have.

3. Say Thank you

She’s been keeping you safe for a few years, before you move on to a new way of thinking, say thank you to her for all her support.

4. Re-train what she focuses on

This step is probably the most important and has been the most impactful in my own life: Everyday write out 3 things that you are most grateful for. Vary them day to day but be consistent and even when you are (or she) is in the foulest mood hunt them out. If you are short on time do it while you boil the kettle or brush your teeth.

5. Share it

If you still can’t shake the negative voices, then take away her power by sharing them: Write them down and talk them through. Remind yourself that ‘Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes’ (thank you Oscar Wild).

If you feel your inner critic is taking over, please know you are not alone, you are not crazy, you are just in an unskilled place and your internal voices really think they are helping you!

It’s sale time! Check out my guidelines on how to shop the sales successfully to avoid any post-purchasing regret.

Get smart and get the sale shopping right and you will dramatically reduce the amount of mistakes made in your wardrobe.

1. Sign up to the mailing list of the brands you love

First of all, don’t miss out, get on the VIP lists and shop the pre-sales.

The sales get earlier every year but as a general rule of thumb they start the second week of June and third week of December. If you know there is a brand you love and would love to own some of their pieces make sure you get an alert!

2. Make some lists

Get to know your wardrobe and create 3 lists: a list of what you need in your wardrobe, a list of what you have enough of and don’t need to buy and a list of what you wear everyday that would be useful to have more of.

This will help you stay focused and you can refer to if you loose track of what you really want.

3. Don’t be swayed by the sizeable discount

Warning, warning the majority of the time a 70% discount means there is a reason why people aren’t buying it. That is not to say it might not be right for you but I recommend you check to see that you really do love it.

4. Shop out of season

This is the true pro tip, the best reductions are found when you are buying out of season. So a summer dress in summer. Keep it classic and make sure you really are in love

5. Shop above your usual price range

6. Buy what you love

Throughout the season I would recommend having a pinterest board that you fill up with the favourite pieces you see online or out and about. Make sure you include your dream purchases too. Then when the sales come around, go in and edit which ones you still love and check what discounts they have.

Sales can be a great way to buy into the latest trend or invest in some classics, whatever approach you take remember that it must give you a feeling of excitement and joy that you’ve found such a great piece!

For more Shopping tips, check out my article at The Huffington Post: The 5 Shopping Fears, which one do you have?

If you’d like to learn more about reigniting your personal style, getting clarity on what works for YOU, exuding inner confidence and make getting dressed everyday effortless, then my upcoming 5 week online style course starting 1st February is for you. Click here to find out more and start your personal style transformation.

Top 4 : The in-between Jacket

At this time of year it is essential you are ready for all aspects of British weather. This is where the in-between jacket comes into play.

The amazing thing about the in-between jacket is it does just that, fills the gap between two extremes. So they are great for hot days and cooler evenings, for making us feel smarter with a more casual outfit or vice versa. But they are also a great style trick to have in your back pocket for the days when your clothes are feeling a little tighter than normal, the in-between jacket will help you feel svelte and tailored.

This is a trend that actually helps you with your day to day life, so I would encourage you to invest.

The high street is brimming with them at the moment so here is my guide to the top 4 to have in your wardrobe.

How I wear the Army Shaket (Jacket and Shirt…gettit?!)

Without a doubt this is the best army shaket I’ve found. Thicker than a shirt but light enough to wear on a summer evening. A pale army green, that technically isn’t in my colour palate but when paired with a red lipstick I feel casual but smart. The deep pockets are great when I’m in those mum days and need to have tissues and snacks at the ready.

How I wear the collarless cropped jacket

A cropped collarless jacket is one of the most elegant of the in-between jacket edit. It works well with trousers, jumpsuits, skirts and dresses. It helps highlight the waist, it showcases great jewellery and this sheer one from Diane Von Furstenberg gives you a light summer feel. The selling point for me was the silver zip, it took the classic shape to a more modern place.

How I wear The Leopard Print Jacket

Ganni Camberwell Jacket £225

Please believe me when I tell you that Leopard Print is a neutral. It will go with everything and is a classic piece that never goes out of fashion. Having said that it is having a particular moment at the moment, with Vogue announcing it as an AW18 Trend, seen at Victoria Beckham and Caroline Herrera’s shows. It works for most skin and hair types so will really be dependent on your style personality type.

Buy this one that I’m wearing from Ganni here or alternatively this one from & other stories is great. The waist detailing moves it away from being too boxy for those of you that want to define your waist.

Stories Leopard Print Jacket £89

How I wear the denim jacket on steroids

There is no doubt that a denim jacket is a great piece for everyone but the classics have felt too reserved for me lately and if you want to add some real interest to your wardrobe I’d recommend this Levis Made and Crafted jacket, which you can buy HERE. It has beading in emerald and pale turquoise and the lace detailing is a perfect contrast to the rough denim.

Or alternatively ask Mrs Lang to customise one for you. Her pieces are one off’s, bespoke and incredibly priced, she does army jackets and velvet blazers too. She was featured in the FT as the ‘customising queen and I have seen her work up close and its is beautiful. Check out her Instagram!

Let me know how you get on and as always if you are in need of some style advice, drop me an email at loulou@thestylingstorey.co.uk

I had a lady get in contact with me today and I wanted to share it with you as its something I think so many of us can relate to. These ‘How to’ blogs are a great place to answer your style and confidence challenges.

‘I’ve just discovered you via a link a friend shared to a podcast session you did with onegirlband on how to dress for the you of tomorrow.

I relate to a lot of what you said and feel I’m on a journey of change at the moment. One thing Ive really struggled with in terms of clothes though is that I know I want to lose weight (not loads but at least a stone) but I also want to feel better about myself and my wardrobe now.

I put off buying clothes because I want to lose weight first but I’m losing weight so slowly I feel stuck. Do you have any thoughts on this? Or a blog post hiding somewhere that might help?’

So in answer to this, here is that blog post that will help with this chicken and egg situation of whether to start with the weight loss or the clothes buying:

Steps to styling success

Life is short, you are beautiful and worthy as you are so celebrate you with a small touch of beauty everyday. It is important that we start seeing that change is possible in ourselves. Start a 30second style challenge. I know this is one I have talked about a lot but it really is so impactful. Doing something different is key. Anything from wearing lipstick, changing out your earrings, booking a manicure, doing a facemask, giving yourself a compliment. Go on give it a try.

Start moving differently. Our bodies and mind get stuck in old unhelpful patterns. I found that it wasn’t until I moved in new ways & started to empower myself that I saw my my post-pregnancy weight shift.

Don’t have clothes that don’t fit hanging in your wardrobe. Stop torturing yourself with what you can’t wear, we often feel comfortable in self-loathing and we can get very good at it, so don’t give yourself this liberty.

Act as though you are already at the weight you want to be. If you felt in good shape and positive about your body, what would you be eating, what colours would you be wearing, what care would you be taking over your appearance, how would you be speaking to yourself? Notice the difference.

Go and buy 2 pieces of clothing that celebrate you, allow yourselves to shine. If you really don’t want to invest in clothes, Shoes and jewellery are a great place to start.

Start giving compliments to others. Get out of your own head and share the joy. Notice others and what you love about what they wear and let them know. I remember feeling so ‘woe is me’ and sorry for myself, turning this around will help you see that you are ok and put a smile on your face which is by far the most impactful styling tip I can offer.

Our bodies are remarkable beings, they keep us a live and give us the ability to do so much. There is no denying being at our ideal weight (whatever that is to you) makes life easier. We can find more clothes to fit, move more freely and feel less self-critical about our reflection however the celebration of self starts today as we are worthy of it today not just when we are thin.

Keep working towards your best self but appreciate the journey of where you are at.

If you would like help with your style and confidence and finding your most stylish self then get in contact at loulou@thestylingstorey.co.uk or follow me on instagram www.instagram.com/thestylingstorey.

You may also be interested in my upcoming 5 week online style course starting 1st February. If you’d like to learn more about reigniting your personal style, getting clarity on what works for YOU, exuding inner confidence and make getting dressed everyday effortless, then this course is for you. Click here to find out more and start your personal style transformation.